Fofoca
A fofoca destrói reputações e relacionamentos. A Bíblia condena severamente o murmúrio, a calúnia e a palavra maldosa, chamando o cristão a edificar com a boca.
O poder destrutivo
O homem perverso semeia contendas, e o que anda com fofocas separa amigos íntimos. A fofoca é veneno social.
28 A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
9 With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble.
13 He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.
18 Hate is covered up by the lips of the upright man, but he who lets out evil about another is foolish.
Edificar com palavras
Não saia da boca nenhuma palavra torpe, mas só a que serve para edificação. Quem fala mal do irmão fala mal da lei.
29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouth, but only what is good for giving necessary teaching, and for grace to those who give ear.
2 He who goes on his way uprightly, doing righteousness, and saying what is true in his heart;3 Whose tongue is not false, who does no evil to his friend, and does not take away the good name of his neighbour;
11 Happy are you when men give you a bad name, and are cruel to you, and say all evil things against you falsely, because of me.